SZOPA
szopa [ʂɔ.pa] nf - shed
In Maine, no one enters the house through the front door. It’s all about the kitchen or, for those fortunate enough, a mudroom. Wherever people enter and leave, concerns about muddy boots and escaped dogs arise. For all their charm, antique houses failed to account for these ritual grievances in their design. Enter the szopa: a place to swap boots for slippers, ease plants into the next season, and engage with the elements within a stunning coastal environment.
A small intervention has the potential to recontextualize comings and goings at Wadsworth House. Rather than a fully-insulated living space, a greenhouse-like addition could offer a dry place to don, doff, or sort the mail. Any space that extends one’s comfort during the long, cold, damp months is critical to survival up here.
Initial study of the existing site defined the workable space as well as the location of the studs within the exterior wall. The proposed structure is made from assembled custom framework that lines up with the studs, allowing for a sturdy integration with the house.
With the main framework established, the use of the szopa is able to flex with the seasons thanks to interchangeable window panels.
